Real Estate
Impact Management
Buildings account for more than 40% of global energy use and as much as one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Smart property management practices can deliver meaningful cost savings while reducing your environmental footprint.
For both real estate investors and individual homeowners, Real Estate Impact Management and Smart Home Management can mean substantial cost savings and a meaningfully reduced environmental footprint. The strategies involved range from simple no-cost habits to targeted upgrades that pay for themselves quickly through lower utility bills.
Below is a practical overview of the four areas where impact management delivers the greatest results for most properties.
01 Reducing water usage
Water waste is one of the most overlooked sources of unnecessary expense for homeowners. The average North American household wastes about 10,000 gallons of water from household leaks every year, and roughly one in ten homes have severe leaks wasting 90 gallons or more per day.
The most common water waster
A constantly running toilet wastes approximately eight gallons per hour, or 200 gallons per day. Left unnoticed, a running toilet could waste over 6,000 gallons per month. Toilet leaks tend to be less visible than faucet leaks, making them particularly costly. Delger Real Estate can help you identify whether your toilets and sinks are leaking.
Other frequent causes of high water bills
Leaks and drips are not the only contributors to elevated water usage. Common everyday habits add up significantly over the course of a month and year. The table below shows how quickly these habits compound into real cost.
| Running the dishwasher partly full | 320 gal / year |
| Leaving the tap running while brushing teeth | 8 gal / day |
| Letting water run for five minutes while hand-washing dishes | 10 gal / each time |
| Failing to fix a broken sprinkler head | 2,400 gal / month |
Frequent causes of water damage
Some leaks drain harmlessly into a sewer line, wasting water and money without causing structural damage. Others drip onto floors, walls, and building materials, leading to repair costs far greater than any utility bill. Beyond sinks and toilets, these are the locations to monitor closely.
02 Reducing electricity usage
Reducing electricity consumption does not require a major renovation. Some of the most impactful changes are also the simplest and least expensive to implement.
Replacing old incandescent light bulbs with modern LED lighting is one of the highest-return upgrades available to any property owner. LED lighting uses significantly less energy, reducing electricity costs. It lasts considerably longer, reducing maintenance costs. It also generates less heat, lowering the load on cooling systems during warm months. Beyond lighting, turning off power sources when not in use is one of the easiest habits that consistently reduces energy bills over time.
03 Reducing heating and cooling costs
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 49% of a home’s total energy bill is spent on heating and cooling. This is where the single largest opportunity for cost reduction exists in most properties.
Most homes are under-insulated
Homes built before 1960 are particularly vulnerable. When insulation is lacking, heating and cooling equipment must run longer to reach the desired indoor temperature, increasing utility costs, shortening equipment life, and raising the property’s environmental impact. The EPA estimates homeowners can save 15% on heating and cooling costs by adding insulation in attics, crawl spaces, and basement rim joists. An energy audit is the best way to identify where to focus first.
Maintenance lowers costs and extends equipment life
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems control the temperature, humidity, and air quality of a home. Even a high-efficiency system loses performance when poorly maintained. Good HVAC maintenance results in lower energy consumption and extends the useful life of the equipment. Delger Real Estate recommends that filters and systems be inspected at regular maintenance intervals. A well-maintained system costs homeowners less over time and reduces the property’s overall energy footprint.
04 Reducing air leaks
Air leaks are one of the most underestimated contributors to high utility bills. Reducing drafts in a home can produce energy savings of 10% to 20% per year, and the home is generally far more comfortable as a result.
Start by identifying obvious drafts indoors, checking for gaps along baseboards, at the edges of flooring, and at junctures between walls and ceilings. On the exterior, pay close attention to areas where two different building materials meet. Other places to inspect include windows, doors, lighting and plumbing fixtures, switches, electrical outlets, and fireplace dampers. Addressing these areas systematically is one of the most cost-effective improvements available to most homeowners and property investors.
Want to reduce costs and environmental impact?
Contact Delger Real Estate to learn more
about Real Estate Impact Management.